JPH07232499A - Heat transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a heat transfer device in which a threedimensional shape surface to be decorated can be preferably decorated by utilizing a heat transfer film. CONSTITUTION:A heat transfer film 22 is sealed to a threedimensional shape surface 20 to be decorated of an object 18 to be decorated supported to an object-to-be-decorated support 34 and a surface of a wrinkle removing member 30 fixed to the vicinity of the support 34 by degassing by a vacuum unit 26. An excess film is absorbed by bending the film 22 along the member 30 in a three-dimensional manner, generation of a wrinkle is reduced, and the film 22 is brought into close contact with the surface 20 to be decorated without wrinkle. Then, the film 22 is pressed to the surface 20 to be decorated by a heated pressing surface 52, a pattern to be transferred of the film 22 is transferred to the surface 20 to be decorated, and decorated. Since the film 22 is brought into close contact with the surface 20 to be decorated without wrinkle, the decoration can be preferably executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat transfer device for pressing a heat transfer film against a surface to be decorated and heating the film for decoration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-18919 discloses a thermal transfer device. The thermal transfer device described in this publication is (1) a decorated object support that is formed by at least one of a protrusion and a depression from a general surface and that supports the decorated object from the back surface side opposite to the decorated surface. A support type with a section,
(2) a thermal transfer film holding device for holding the thermal transfer film in a state of facing the decorated surface of the decorated object supported by the support mold, and (3) covering the thermal transfer film held by the thermal transfer film holding device. A vacuum device that adheres to the decorated surface of the decorated object, (4) a pressing die having a pressing surface that presses the heat transfer film against the decorated surface of the decorated object, and (5) a heating device that heats the pressed surface. It is equipped with.

According to this apparatus, the thermal transfer film held by the thermal transfer film holding device is brought into close contact with the decorated surface of the decorated object supported by the supporting die by the vacuum device, and then heated by the heating device. The thermal transfer film is pressed against the decorated surface of the object to be decorated by the pressing surface of the pressed die. As a result, the transferred pattern or the like provided on the thermal transfer film is transferred to the decorated surface of the decorated object, and decoration is performed.

[0004]

However, in the thermal transfer device described in the above publication, there is a problem in that the transferred pattern provided on the thermal transfer film may not be properly transferred to the decorated surface. there were. This is because when the thermal transfer film is extended and brought into close contact with the decorated surface of the decorated object having a three-dimensional shape, wrinkles are generated in a portion of the thermal transfer film corresponding to the decorated surface. The thermal transfer film used in the thermal transfer device is usually a polyethylene terephthalate film. A film made of polyethylene terephthalate has excellent heat resistance and toughness, but has poor stretchability, so that it is difficult to adhere it to the decorated surface so that wrinkles do not occur.

Therefore, an object of the first invention of the present application is to obtain a thermal transfer device capable of closely adhering a thermal transfer film to a decorated surface having a three-dimensional shape without wrinkles even with a small elongation. Second invention The following problems are to solve the following additional problems in addition to the problems of the first invention. An additional object of the second invention is to make the creases as easy as possible and thus cheaply. An additional object of the third invention is to obtain a pressing die that can press the thermal transfer flume onto the surface to be decorated well, and an additional object of the fourth invention is to improve the durability of the pressing die according to the third invention. It is to improve. An additional problem of the fifth invention is to facilitate manufacturing and maintenance of the pressing die, and an additional problem of the sixth invention is to further facilitate them. An additional object of the seventh invention is to obtain a thermal transfer device capable of saving the thermal transfer film.

[0006]

The gist of the first invention is that a thermal transfer device is formed by (a) at least one of a protrusion and a recess from a general surface, and an object to be decorated is provided on the side opposite to the surface to be decorated. Of the decorated object support portion supported from the back side of, and the wrinkle portion that is provided in the peripheral portion of the decorated object support portion and includes at least one of a concave portion and a convex portion that are recessed from the surface of the peripheral portion. A supporting die provided with (b) a thermal transfer film holding device for holding the thermal transfer film in a state of facing the decorated surface of the decorated object supported by the supporting die, and (c) the thermal transfer film holding device A vacuum device that degasses between the heat transfer film and the decorated surface held by and makes the heat transfer film adhere to the decorated surface and at least a part of the wrinkle portion,
It is intended to include (d) a pressing die having a pressing surface that presses the heat transfer film against the decorated surface of the object to be decorated, and (e) a heating device that heats the pressed surface.

The shape of the support type object to be decorated is determined according to the shape of the object to be decorated. For example, when the object to be decorated generally has a convex shape, and the convex surface is the surface to be decorated, the object to be decorated support portion is formed by projection from the general surface, and conversely, the concave surface is In the case of a decorated surface, the decorated object support portion is formed by only a recess from the general surface, only a protrusion, or both a protrusion and a recess. The wrinkle portion may be a convex portion that protrudes from the surface of the peripheral portion of the decorated object support portion, a concave portion, or both. The surface on which the wrinkle portion is provided is usually a general surface, but for example, only the tip end portion of the protrusion forms the object-to-be-decorated portion, and the base end portion of the protrusion is not covered with the object to be ornamented. If there is a relatively wide surface, it may be formed on that surface.

The gist of the second invention is that the wrinkle portion includes a convex portion protruding from a general surface, and the convex portion has a plurality of wrinkle members having a hemispherical top surface of a supporting type. It is supposed to be fixed to the main body. All of the plurality of wrinkle-removing members have the same shape and size (radius of the hemisphere forming the top surface, height from the general surface to the top surface, etc., hereinafter abbreviated as shape). Or may be different. Further, the wrinkle removing member may be made of any material.

The gist of the third invention is that the pressing surface is formed by a rubber-like elastic material layer having a shape corresponding to the shape of the decorated surface of the object to be decorated, and the pressing die is the rubber-like elastic material layer. A rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member for supporting the rubber-like elastic material layer on the back surface opposite to the pressing surface is included. The gist of the fourth invention is to provide this rubber-like elastic material layer with It is intended to have a longitudinal projection formed substantially parallel to the peripheral edge and the rubber-like elastic material layer support member to have a groove that fits into the projection.

The protrusions of the rubber-like elastic material layer may have a long shape formed substantially parallel to the peripheral edge, even if formed in a ring shape along the entire peripheral edge, along a part of the peripheral edge. It may be formed. Moreover, the number of protrusions may be one or more. Grooves are formed in the rubber-like elastic material layer support member by the number corresponding to the positions corresponding to the protrusions.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a heating member for heating the pressing die from the side opposite to the surface supporting the rubber-like elastic layer, and a rubber-like elastic material layer. Another object is to provide a coupling device that detachably couples the support member and the heating member. The heating member may be provided with a heat source such as an electric heater, or may be provided with a passage for heated liquid or gas.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is that the rubber-like elastic material layer and the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member are in the form of a shell having a substantially constant thickness along the pressing surface. A gist of a seventh invention is to provide the thermal transfer device including a cover film holding device that holds a cover film having a width wider than that of the thermal transfer film in a state of covering the thermal transfer film from the pressing mold side. Even if the cover film is made of the same material as the thermal transfer film,
It may be made of a different material. Further, the thickness may be the same or different.

[0013]

In the thermal transfer apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the object to be decorated is supported by the supporting type object-to-be-decorated object supporting portion from the back surface side opposite to the surface to be decorated, and the wrinkle portion is the object to be decorated. It is provided in the peripheral part of the support part. Thermal transfer film
It is held by the thermal transfer film holding device in a state of covering both the decorated object and the wrinkle portion, that is, in a state of facing the decorated surface. In this state, when the space between the thermal transfer film and the decorated surface is degassed by the vacuum device, the thermal transfer film is brought into close contact with at least a part of the wrinkle portion and the decorated surface. In this state, when the surface to be decorated is pressed by the heated pressing surface, the transferred pattern or the like provided on the thermal transfer film is transferred to the surface to be decorated by heat and pressure. The pressing surface is heated by the heating device.

As described above, when the thermal transfer film held by the thermal transfer film holding device is brought into close contact with the three-dimensional decorated surface of the decorated object by deaeration by the vacuum device, at least one of the wrinkle portions is formed. Can be attached to the part. In order to bring the planar heat transfer film into close contact with the three-dimensional decorated surface, it is necessary to cause at least one of partial expansion and contraction.
It is virtually impossible to compress the thermal transfer film in a direction parallel to the plane to cause shrinkage. Therefore, it is necessary to bring the heat-transfer film into close contact with the surface to be decorated having a three-dimensional shape by almost only stretching. However, as described above, the thermal transfer film is usually inferior in extensibility. It becomes impossible to bring them into close contact and wrinkles occur.

Wrinkles are formed in the thermal transfer film because the thermal transfer film is left in that portion. Therefore, in the first invention, the peripheral portion of the support-type decorated object support portion is provided with a wrinkle portion by at least one of protrusion and depression from the surface of the peripheral portion, and the thermal transfer film is provided along the wrinkle portion. The extra portion is absorbed by inflating or denting (hereinafter referred to as three-dimensional bending). If the heat transfer film is curved three-dimensionally along the wrinkled portion, the same effect as contraction can be obtained, and the elongation of the heat transfer film around the curved portion can be small. In other words, even a thermal transfer film having a small stretchability can be brought into good contact with the three-dimensionally decorated surface.

The wrinkle-removing portion is effective if it is provided in a portion of the heat transfer film where wrinkles are formed when it is not provided, and since wrinkles are not a problem in practical use unless they are formed on the surface to be decorated, it is originally intended. Should be provided on the decorated surface, but in practice, the wrinkle portion cannot be provided on the decorated surface. Therefore, the wrinkle portion is formed in the peripheral portion of the support-type decorated object support portion.

In the thermal transfer apparatus of the second aspect of the invention, the wrinkle removing portion is composed of a plurality of wrinkle removing members. The wrinkle removing member has a hemispherical top surface and is fixed to the main body of the support mold. The fixing position, the number and the like of each wrinkle removing member can be appropriately determined depending on the shape of the decorated surface of the object to be decorated, the material of the heat transfer film, etc. so that the heat transfer film has less wrinkles. Therefore, even if the shape of the decorated surface and the material of the thermal transfer film are different,
In many cases, it can be handled simply by changing the fixed position or the number. In many cases, it is not necessary to manufacture a dedicated wrinkle removing member depending on the shape of the surface to be decorated and the material of the heat transfer film. Multiple types of wrinkle removing members with different shapes,
By making a plurality of each, it is possible to expand the range that can correspond to the shape of the decorated surface, the material of the thermal transfer film, and the like. Further, as compared with the case where a dedicated wrinkle removing member is used, it is easier to bring the wrinkle removing member closer to and fixed to the decorated surface supporting portion.

In the thermal transfer apparatus of the third invention, the pressing surface is formed of a rubber-like elastic material layer having a shape corresponding to the shape of the decorated surface of the decorated object. Since the pressing surface is formed of the rubber-like elastic material layer, the thermal transfer film is pressed against the surface to be decorated with a uniform surface pressure. The surface pressure becomes more uniform than when the pressing surface is made of metal.

In the thermal transfer device according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the rubber-like elastic material layer is formed by engaging the protrusions of the rubber-like elastic material layer with the grooves formed in the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member. It becomes difficult to peel from the support member. For example, in a thermal transfer device in which a pressing die moves in the vertical direction, when a groove is formed on a substantially vertical surface of the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member, the shear applied to the rubber-like elastic material layer during the vertical movement. Resistance to force occurs. Therefore, even if the rubber-like elastic material layer is used in a heated state, it is difficult to peel it off. When the groove is formed in the rubber-like elastic material layer support member, a slight depression is formed on the pressing surface of the portion of the rubber-like elastic material layer corresponding to the groove. Therefore, on the decorated surface pressed by the portion, the adherence of the transferred pattern may be weakened. In order to avoid this, it is desirable that the groove is provided in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the rubber-like elastic material layer in a portion having no transferred pattern.

In the thermal transfer device of the fifth aspect of the invention, the rubber-like elastic material layer support member and the heating member are detachably joined by the joining device. In the bonded state, the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member is heated by the heating member from the side opposite to the surface supporting the rubber-like elastic material layer, and the rubber-like elastic material layer is opposite to the pressing surface by heat conduction. Heated from the side surface. Since the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member and the heating member can be separated from each other, the manufacturing cost of the pressing die is reduced when it can be applied to various kinds of objects to be decorated. For example, in order to be applicable to a wide variety of objects to be decorated, in the conventional pressing die, many pressing die including the heating portion had to be manufactured. In the above, it is necessary to manufacture only various types of rubber-like elastic material layer support members.

Furthermore, the work of replacing the rubber-like elastic material layer is facilitated. When replacement is required due to damage or deterioration of the rubber-like elastic material layer, in the conventional thermal transfer device, the entire pressing die had to be handled, whereas in the thermal transfer device of the present invention, the rubber was used. This is because the elastic elastic material layer and the rubber elastic material layer supporting member may be handled, and the weight of the handled member may be light. Moreover, in the conventional pressing die that integrally includes a heating unit that incorporates heating means,
While the heating means had to be removed from the pressing die when removing the pressing die from the thermal transfer device, it is not necessary to remove the heating member in the pressing die of the present invention, so it is necessary to remove the heating means from the heating member. There is also no.

In the thermal transfer apparatus of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member has a shell shape, so that the weight of the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member is further reduced and the handling becomes easier.

In the thermal transfer device of the seventh invention, the cover film is held by the cover film holding device in a state of covering the thermal transfer film from the pressing surface side. The width of the cover film is wider than that of the thermal transfer film. for that reason,
Even if the thermal transfer film has a narrow width and cannot be degassed between the thermal transfer film and the surface to be decorated due to a structural problem of the thermal transfer device, degassing is possible if it is covered with the cover film. At the time of deaeration, the wide cover film adheres to the object to be decorated by sandwiching the narrow thermal transfer film between them.
This is because the thermal transfer film will eventually come into close contact with the decorated surface having a three-dimensional shape. As a result, the width of the thermal transfer film only needs to be slightly wider than the width of the decorative pattern, and the amount of the thermal transfer film used can be reduced.

[0024]

In the thermal transfer device of the first aspect of the present invention, since the wrinkle removing member is provided, the thermal transfer film is slightly stretched as compared with the case where there is no wrinkle portion, and the decorated surface having a three-dimensional shape is provided. Can be adhered without wrinkles. Therefore, the pattern to be transferred provided on the thermal transfer film can be satisfactorily transferred to the decorated surface of the object to be decorated.

In the thermal transfer device of the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the unique effect of facilitating the construction of an appropriate wrinkle portion. By appropriately changing the fixing position and the number of wrinkle removing members, it is possible to prevent wrinkles from occurring in the portion of the heat transfer film corresponding to the decorated surface depending on the shape of the decorated surface and the material of the heat transfer film. Because you can. In addition, by using a standardized wrinkle removing member, compared to the case where a dedicated wrinkle removing member is manufactured and used according to the shape of the decorated surface and the material of the heat transfer film, Manufacturing costs can be reduced. Furthermore, since the wrinkle removing member can be fixed in proximity to the decorated object support portion, it is possible to reduce the size of the support mold and the like.

In the thermal transfer apparatus of the third invention, the pressing surface has a shape corresponding to the shape of the decorated surface, and the pressing surface is formed of the rubber-like elastic material layer. The entire decorated surface can be pressed with a uniform force. Therefore, it becomes possible to more favorably decorate the surface to be decorated.

In the thermal transfer device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the rubber-like elastic material layer has the protrusion and the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member has the groove, the rubber-like elastic material layer is peeled off. Can be satisfactorily avoided, the life of the pressing die can be extended, and the peculiar effect of improving the operating rate of the thermal transfer device can be obtained.

In the thermal transfer device of the fifth aspect of the invention, the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member and the heating member are detachable, so that the heating member can be used when adapting to various kinds of objects to be decorated. It can be shared, and a unique effect that the manufacturing cost of the pressing die can be reduced can be obtained. Also,
Since the weight of the member to be handled during replacement work of rubber-like elastic material layer, repair, shape correction, status check, etc. is reduced,
The work becomes easier accordingly. It is possible to reduce working time, improve safety, and save storage space.

In the thermal transfer device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member has a shell shape, the weight of the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member can be further reduced, and the rubber-like elastic material can be reduced. The work of exchanging layers becomes easier. In the thermal transfer device of the seventh invention, the width of the expensive thermal transfer film can be narrowed, and the cost can be reduced.

[0030]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The desirable modes of the present invention will be listed below, and if necessary, relevant explanations will be given. (1) The thermal transfer device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the heating device includes a pressing surface side heating device that heats the rubber-like elastic material layer from the pressing surface side. (2) The thermal transfer device according to aspect 1, wherein the pressing surface side heating device is a radiant heating device that heats the pressing surface of the rubber-like elastic material layer with radiant heat.

The rubber-like elastic material layer is heated by the heating member from the back surface side through the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member, and is also heated by the pressing surface side heating device from the pressing surface side. As a result, the heating temperature by the heating member can be lowered as compared with the case where the heating is performed only from the back surface side. That is, even if the heating temperature from the back surface side is low, it is possible to raise the temperature of the pressing surface to the temperature required for transfer. As a result, it becomes possible to lower the temperature of the bonding surface between the rubber-like elastic material layer and the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member, and the average temperature of the rubber-like elastic material layer itself, and to reduce the adhesive layer and the rubber-like elastic material layer. It is possible to suppress deterioration due to heat and to prolong the life of the pressing mold. Further, since the thermal expansion of the rubber-like elastic material layer can be reduced,
It becomes easy to uniformly press the heat transfer film against the decorated surface. Furthermore, when the pressing surface side heating device that heats the pressing surface of the rubber-like elastic material layer is a radiation type, a general-purpose heating device can be used, so compared to the case of using a dedicated contact heating device. The cost can be reduced.

(3) The coupling device includes a guide rail provided on one of the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member and the heating member, and a guide rail provided on the other side, and the guide rail relatively moves in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail. An engaging portion capable of engaging,
8. A relative movement preventing device for preventing relative movement of the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member and the heating member in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail.
The thermal transfer device according to any one of 1. The rubber-like elastic material layer support member and the heating member are coupled to each other by the guide rail and the engaging portion so as to be movable relative to each other. The engagement portion does not necessarily have to be formed in a shape that continuously extends in the longitudinal direction, and the guide rail may be formed in such a shape.

For example, when a combination of a guide groove continuously extending in the longitudinal direction, such as a dovetail groove and a T-groove, and a projection having a longitudinal shape having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the guide groove is adopted, the former is used. It is natural to think of the engagement portion and the latter as a guide rail, and instead of the guide groove, the engagement portion can be configured by a plurality of short members having notches having the same cross-sectional shape as the dovetail groove and the T groove. Is. Conversely, it is also possible to leave the guide groove in the longitudinal shape and use a plurality of short members having the same cross-sectional shape instead of the guide rail. In this case, the guide groove is formed. It is more natural to think of the members as guide rails and the plurality of short members as engaging portions. It is also possible to use the above-mentioned short member as a simple bracket, attach at least one wheel to each of the two side surfaces of each bracket, and employ these in combination with a T-shaped groove or T-shaped cross-section protrusion having a longitudinal shape. In this case, it is natural to consider the bracket holding the wheel as the engaging portion, and the member forming the T groove or the T-shaped cross-section protruding portion as the guide rail.

(4) The thermal transfer device according to aspect 3, wherein a handle is attached to the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member. If the handle is provided, the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member and the heating member can be easily moved relative to each other and can be easily attached and detached.

(5) The thermal transfer film holding device holds the thermal transfer film on the general surface side from the top surface of the object to be decorated supported by the supporting mold at least during deaeration by the vacuum device. The thermal transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and aspects 1 to 4. The top surface of the object to be decorated is the surface farthest from the general surface when the object to be decorated is supported by the support mold. When the position where the heat transfer film is held is close to the general surface, the area of the heat transfer film that covers the object to be decorated before vacuum adsorption becomes larger than when it is far from the surface, and moreover, the heat transfer film adheres to the object to be decorated closely. Since the amount of three-dimensional bending at the time of making it is small, it becomes easy to bring the surface to be decorated into close contact.

When the holding position of the thermal transfer film holding device is on the same plane as the top surface of the object to be decorated, the thermal transfer film covers the object to be decorated in a planar shape. On the other hand, when the holding position by the thermal transfer film holding device is on the general surface side from the top surface of the object to be decorated, the object to be decorated is curved in a three-dimensional manner with almost no extension of the thermal transfer film. Cover. It is clear that the area of the three-dimensionally curved heat transfer film is larger than that of the planar heat transfer film. The amount of curvature required for the thermal transfer film to adhere to the surface to be decorated by vacuum adsorption is larger when the holding position by the thermal transfer film holding device is on the general surface side than the top surface of the object to be decorated. It is smaller than when it is on the same plane as the top surface of the ornament. Therefore, when the holding position by the heat transfer film holding device is on the general surface side of the top surface of the object to be decorated, the heat transfer film having a large area may be slightly curved, and the elongation rate may be small. It becomes easy to make it adhere to the decorative surface.

When the holding position of the thermal transfer film holding device is on the same plane as the top surface of the object to be decorated, the thermal transfer film is not sufficiently extended at the time of vacuum adsorption, so that the thermal transfer film is sufficiently moved to the object supporting part side of the object to be decorated. I ca n’t get in,
As shown in FIG. 22, the pressing surface 300 presses the floating portion 304 of the thermal transfer film 302 that is not in close contact with the object to be decorated or the supporting mold, and the portion 304.
In the above, the thermal transfer film 302 may be damaged.
On the other hand, as in the present embodiment, if the thermal transfer film holding position is lowered, the elongation of the thermal transfer film may be small, and the thermal transfer film sufficiently enters the decorated object support portion side to the decorated object and the supporting mold. Adhesion is improved, and damage to the thermal transfer film can be almost eliminated.

[0038]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A thermal transfer device which is a common embodiment of the first to seventh inventions will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, 10 is a support type and 12 is a pressing type. The support die 10 is supported by the bed 14 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction, and is moved to a retracted position shown in the figure and an operating position directly below the pressing die 12 by a moving device (not shown). On the other hand, the pressing die 12 is attached to an elevating device (not shown) and can be vertically moved. Support type 1
When 0 is moved to the operating position and the pressing die 12 is lowered, the heated pressing force is applied to the decorated surface 20 forming the three-dimensional shape of the decorated object 18 supported by the support base 16 of the support die 10. The thermal transfer film 22 is pressed by the mold 12, and the transferred pattern or the like provided on the thermal transfer film 22 is applied to the decorated surface 2
It is transferred to 0 and decorated.

The support die 10 is provided with a support die body 23 having a generally shallow box shape, and a support base 16 made of aluminum is fixed to a substantially central portion of the bottom surface of the support die body 23. The bottom surface of the support type main body 23 forms a general surface 24, and the general surface 2
The support base 16 as a protrusion projects upward from the position 4. A plurality of suction holes (not shown) are formed around the support table 16 and communicate with the vacuum device 26. The vacuum device 26 degasses the space between the decorated surface 20 and the thermal transfer film 22.

The support base 16 is provided with four corners 28 and is generally in the shape of a truncated pyramid, and as shown in FIGS. The individual wrinkle removing members 30 are fixed adjacent to each other. The wrinkle removing member 30 is a member made of rubber having a hemispherical top surface, and in this embodiment, the plurality of wrinkle removing members 30 have the same shape. These wrinkle removing members 3
The fixing position of 0, the number, etc. are determined so that when the thermal transfer film 22 is brought into close contact with the decorated surface 20, wrinkles do not occur in the portion of the thermal transfer film 22 corresponding to the decorated surface 20.

In this embodiment, the decorated object 18 has a length of 900 mm, a width of 300 mm and a height of 50 as shown in FIG.
mm synthetic resin, the decorated surface 20 is 3
It is a three-dimensional convex surface. The upper end of the support base 16 is made smaller than the other portions by the thickness of the object to be decorated 18, and serves as the object to be decorated 34 (see FIG. 5). Decorative object support portion 34
Is the back surface 36 of the object 18 to be decorated on the side opposite to the surface 20 to be decorated.
Support in.

Further, as is apparent from FIG. 1, in this embodiment, from the top surface 37 of the object 18 to be decorated, the supporting mold 10 is provided.
The upper surface 40 of the side wall 38 is lower. Pressing type 1
A clamp member 42 having a generally frame shape is provided at a position surrounding the clamp member 42.
Is provided. The clamp member 42 is moved up and down by an elevating device different from the pressing die 12, and presses and clamps the peripheral portion of the portion of the heat transfer film 22 on which the decorated pattern is formed on the upper surface 40 of the side wall 38.

The top surface 37 is the surface most distant from the general surface 24 when the decoration object 18 is supported by the decoration object support portion 34, and the upper surface 40 is located closer to the general surface 24 than the top surface 37. Therefore, in the clamped state, the thermal transfer film 22 covers the decorated object 18 in a three-dimensionally curved state with almost no extension. It is clear that the area of the curved thermal transfer film 22 is larger than the area of the planar thermal transfer film 22, and the effect of this will be described later.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the pressing die 12 has a silicone rubber layer 44 and a silicone rubber layer support member 4
6, a heating member 48, a coupling device 50, and the like. The silicon rubber layer 44 has a pressing surface 52 having a shape corresponding to the shape of the decorated surface 20 of the object to be decorated 18, and the silicon rubber layer 44 is formed on the back surface 53 on the opposite side of the pressing surface 52 from the silicon. It is supported by the rubber layer support member 46. In the present embodiment, the silicone rubber layer 44 and the silicone rubber layer support member 46 are shell-shaped having a substantially constant thickness along the shape of the decorated surface 20 of the decorated object 18.

The silicon rubber layer support member 46 is made of an aluminum alloy and is manufactured by casting as shown in FIG. Casting molds 54 and 55 made of sand using a wooden mold are manufactured, the material of the shell-type silicon rubber layer support member 46 is cast using the casting molds 54 and 55, and is finished by machining to obtain silicon. The rubber layer support member 46 is used. The silicon rubber layer support member 46 has a wall thickness of about 5 mm and a weight of about 50 kg. On the other hand, the weight of the conventional pressing die in which the silicon rubber layer supporting member and the heating member were integrally formed was about 500 kg.

The silicone rubber layer 44 is generally in the form of a container with a flange, but two of its sloping side walls 56.
One protrusion 57, 58 is formed on each outer surface. Further, a protrusion 60 is formed on the back surface of the flange 59. Each of the protrusions 57 and 58 is a linear protrusion extending long in parallel to the two long sides of the rectangular opening edge of the silicon rubber layer 44, and the protrusion 60 extends over the entire opening edge of the silicon rubber layer 44. It is an annular protrusion formed in parallel. These protrusions 57, 58, 60 are formed on the silicon rubber layer 4
4, the protrusions 57 of the support surface 62 supporting the silicon rubber layer 44 of the silicon rubber layer support member 46,
Grooves 63, 64 formed at positions corresponding to 58, 60,
It is formed by allowing silicone rubber material to penetrate into 66.

The projections 57 and 58 and the grooves 63 and 64 are formed along the surface of the flange 59 in order to prevent the projections 60 and the grooves 64 from being separated from each other by shearing force in the direction along the surface of the side wall 56. The groove 63, 64, 66 has a width of 4 mm and a depth of 2 to prevent peeling due to shearing force in the vertical direction.
mm. In addition, the flange 59 extending outward from the opening end of the silicon rubber layer 44 is
It is provided in order to increase the adhesion area between the silicon rubber layer support member 46 and the silicone rubber layer support member 46 and to increase the adhesion strength, and the width is 15 mm. The flange 59 also has a function of preventing peeling due to shearing force in the direction along the surface of the side wall 56.

The silicon rubber layer support member 46 has the support surface 6
2 supports the silicone rubber layer 44,
Projections having female screw holes 70 are provided at the four corners of the coupling surface 68 on the opposite side of the support surface 62 at the bottom of the silicon rubber layer support member 46. A through hole 72 is provided at a position relative to the heating member 48. The through hole 72 is provided with a counterbore portion having a size large enough to accommodate the protrusion, and the bolt 74 is screwed into the female screw hole 70 through the through hole 72, so that the silicone rubber layer support member 46 and the heating member 48 are separated from each other. Be combined. The coupling device 50 is constituted by the female screw hole 70, the through hole 72, the bolt 74, and the like.

The heating member 48 has a shape obtained by removing the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member 46 from the rectangular parallelepiped member, and as shown in FIG. The heater holes 76 are formed in parallel with each other and at equal intervals. A rod-shaped heater 78 is provided in the heater hole 76.
Are inserted from both sides. One heater hole 7
Two rod-shaped heaters 78 are arranged in the unit 6, and the rod-shaped heater 78 is an electric heater. The main heating member 48 is
The heating means constituted by the rod-shaped heater 78 is built in. The heat generated by the rod-shaped heater 78 is applied to the heating member 48 and the silicon rubber layer support member 46.
And is transmitted to the silicone rubber layer 44 by conduction.

Here, the operation of forming the silicone rubber layer 44 on the silicone rubber layer supporting member 46 will be described. Attach the silicone rubber layer support member 46 to the heating member 48,
An adhesive is applied to the support surface 62, and uncured silicone rubber is placed. The mold 81 shown in FIG. 9 is put together and the mold is clamped. Then, the heating member 48 is heated to crosslink and cure the silicone rubber, and the support surface 62 is baked and adhered.

Next, a heat treatment called aging is performed.
The heat treatment is performed to release the unreacted peroxide remaining in the silicone rubber as a gas. When the uncured silicone rubber does not sufficiently flow during the molding of the silicone rubber layer 44, and gas exists between the silicone rubber layer 44 and the silicone rubber layer support member 46, the gas expands during use and the silicone rubber The layer 44 may be peeled off. To avoid this, heat with the silicone rubber layer 44 on top,
The gas is gradually released from between the silicone rubber layer 44 and the silicone rubber layer support member 46.

In the above-mentioned silicon rubber layer forming work, in the conventional pressing die, the silicon rubber layer supporting member cannot be separated from the pressing die, so that the pressing die having a weight of about 500 kg must be handled. for that reason,
There is also a problem that the work is difficult and the heat treatment cannot be performed sufficiently. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the silicon rubber layer supporting member 46 having a weight of about 50 kg can be separated from the pressing die 12, and the silicon rubber layer 44 may be formed on the silicon rubber layer supporting member 46. Therefore, the series of operations described above becomes easy. In particular, because of its small size and light weight, aging can be easily performed using a heat treatment apparatus such as an ordinary electric furnace, and it can be sufficiently performed. Also, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not gas is present.

If the silicon rubber layer 44 is repeatedly formed and a plurality of silicon rubber layer support members 46 to which the silicon rubber layer 44 is fixed are manufactured, the silicon rubber layer support member 46 can be removed by, for example, peeling, damage or deterioration. When it becomes necessary to replace the rubber layer 44, the silicone rubber layer support member 4
It becomes possible to replace every 6 quickly. Remove the silicon rubber layer support member 46 in use from the heating member 48,
The silicon rubber layer support member 46 to which a new silicon rubber layer is fixed may be attached. In this embodiment, since the silicone rubber layer support member 46 is lightweight,
If a jig or the like is used, the replacement work can be performed by a single worker, and the working time can be shortened to about 1/10 of that in the case where the pressing die cannot be separated. The replaced silicon rubber layer support members are grouped together, the used silicon rubber layer 44 is removed with a solvent or the like, and a new silicon rubber layer 44 is formed again and repeatedly used.

The thermal transfer film 22 is held by a pair of rollers 82 and 84, as shown in FIG.
The roller 82 is a supply roller and the roller 84 is a winding roller. The flow direction of the thermal transfer film 22 is 18
Parallel to the longitudinal direction of. In addition, the cover film 86 is stacked on the side of the thermal transfer film 22 opposite to the object 18 to be decorated.
However, like the thermal transfer film 22, it is held by the supply roller 88 and the winding roller 90. These rollers 8
2, 84, 88, and 90 are attached to the support die 10 via an elevator device (not shown) as a roller movement device, and move to the retracted position and the operating position together with the support die 10. Further, the rollers 82 and the like are moved (elevated) by the elevating device between the illustrated separated position and the clamped position where the thermal transfer film 22 and the cover film 86 are in close contact with the upper surface 40 of the side wall 38.

The width of the cover film 86 is wider than that of the thermal transfer film 22 (see FIG. 1). Thermal transfer film 22
Is a width just suitable for covering the decorated surface 20 of the object to be decorated 18 and the surface of the wrinkle removing member 30, and the width of the cover film 86 can cover the support mold main body 23 with some margin. Width. The thermal transfer film 22 has a side wall 38.
, Two side walls 38 parallel to the flow direction of the thermal transfer film 22.
Since it is not necessary to be clamped by the clamp member 42 and the clamp member 42, the width of the cover film 86 is narrower than the inner dimension of the two side walls 38.
Since it must be clamped at 8, its width is greater than or equal to the outer dimension of those two side walls 38. As described above, the wrinkle removing member 30 of the present embodiment.
Can be placed close to the support 16 and can reduce the required width of the thermal transfer film 22. Further, for the same reason, the interval between the two side walls 38 can be narrowed, and thus the width of the cover film 86 can be narrowed.

In a specific embodiment, the thermal transfer film 22 has a width of 500 mm and the cover film 86 has a width of 86 mm.
It was set to 0 mm. The thermal transfer film 22 is supplied in the form of a roll having a width of 1000 mm. Before the cover film 86 is provided, the thermal transfer film 22 is cut into a width of 860 mm for use, which causes a problem that the thermal transfer film 22 is wasted.
On the other hand, by using the cover film 86, the heat transfer film 22 having a width of 1000 mm can be cut into a width of 500 mm and used, and it is possible to decorate twice as many decorative objects 18. .

In this embodiment, the thermal transfer film 22 is used.
The cover film 86 and the cover film 86 are both films made of polyethylene terephthalate and having a thickness of 20 μm. The thermal transfer film 22 has a pattern to be transferred such as wood grain, but the cover film 86 is transparent without a pattern.
Further, when the thermal transfer film is used with the width being 1000 mm, the used thermal transfer film can be reused as the cover film 86.

When the thermal transfer film 22 and the cover film 86 are moved down to the clamped position, their central portions are pushed up by the top surface 37 of the object to be decorated 18,
It becomes a three-dimensionally curved state with almost no elongation. In this state, the support base 10 is moved to the operating position and the clamp member 42 is lowered to clamp the cover film 86 and the thermal transfer film 22 with the side wall 38. However, as described above, the two side walls 38 parallel to the flow direction of the thermal transfer film 22 and the clamp member 4 are provided.
Only the cover film 86 is sandwiched between the two. Hereinafter, the clamp of the thermal transfer film 22 and the cover film 86 by the clamp member 42 will be simply referred to as a film clamp.

This thermal transfer device is provided with a radial pressing surface side heating device 92. The pressing surface side heating device 92 is provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction integrally with the support die 10.
The pressing surface side heating device 92 is located immediately below the pressing surface 52 while the support die 10 is in the retracted position, and heats the pressing surface 52 with radiant heat. That is, in this embodiment, the rubber-like elastic material layer 44 is heated not only from the back surface 53 side but also from the pressing surface 52 side. Therefore, compared with the case where only the back surface 53 side is heated, the set temperature of the rod-shaped heater 78 for bringing the pressing surface 52 to the temperature necessary for thermal transfer can be lowered.

In the present embodiment, the pressing surface 5 at the time of thermal transfer
The temperature of 2 must be 160 ° C. for that reason,
If the pressing surface side heating device 92 is not provided, the temperature of the rod-shaped heater 78 must be set so that the temperature of the heating member 48 can be raised to 220 ° C.
The temperature of the adhesive layer 2 is 220 ° C., and the average temperature of the silicone rubber layer 44 is 190 ° C. (= (220 ° C. + 160 ° C.) / 2)
Therefore, there is a problem that the adhesive layer and the silicone rubber layer 44 are significantly deteriorated by heat, and the silicone rubber layer 44 must be frequently replaced.

On the other hand, when the pressing surface 52 is heated by the pressing surface side heating device 92, the rod-shaped heater 78 is used.
The temperature may be set so that the temperature of the heating member 48 can be raised to 100 ° C., and as a result, the temperature of the adhesive layer can be lowered to prevent the peeling of the silicone rubber layer 44, and , The average temperature of the silicone rubber layer 44 itself is 1
It can be lowered to 30 ° C. (= (100 ° C. + 160 ° C.) / 2). Therefore, deterioration of the silicone rubber layer 44 due to heat can be suppressed, and the life can be extended. It is said that the degree of deterioration of the silicone rubber becomes 1/2 when the temperature drops by 10 ° C. Therefore, if the average temperature of the silicone rubber layer 44 itself can be lowered by 60 ° C. from 190 ° C. to 130 ° C., the life of the silicone rubber layer 44 can be extended about 60 times.

The operation of the thermal transfer device configured as described above will be described. While the support die 10 is in the retracted position and the thermal transfer film 22 and the cover film 86 are in the separated position, the decorated object 18 is supplied to the decorated object supporting portion 34. The thermal transfer film 22 is in a state of being wound by a predetermined amount. The pressing surface 52 of the silicone rubber layer 44 is heated by the pressing surface side heating device 92. At this time, the pressing surface 5
The pressing mold 12 is lowered slightly so that the 2 is heated well.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the support mold 10 is moved to the operating position and the films 22 and 8 are moved.
6 is lowered to the clamped position. Then, the clamp member 42 is lowered to clamp the film,
Immediately, it is degassed by the vacuum device 26, and the thermal transfer film 22 together with the cover film 86 is brought into close contact with the decorated surface 20 of the decorated object 18 and the top surface of the wrinkle member 30 with a slight extension.

As a result, the portion of the thermal transfer film 22 corresponding to the wrinkle removing member 30 is swollen by the wrinkle removing member 30 and three-dimensionally curved, and the excess film is absorbed. Corner 28 of support 16 of thermal transfer film 22
The portion corresponding to the corner of the decorated object 18 is the portion that needs to be extended most, while the film is left in the peripheral portion. If this extra film is not absorbed well,
Although wrinkles are generated, in the present embodiment, the thermal transfer film 22 is swollen by the wrinkle removing member 30 to absorb the excess film and reduce the generation of wrinkles. As shown in FIG. 14, wrinkles 94 occur in the portion of the thermal transfer film 22 between the decorated object 18 and the wrinkle member 30, but a portion 96 corresponding to the decorated surface 20.
Wrinkles do not occur on.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, as described above, the position of the thermal transfer film 22 clamped by the side wall 38 of the supporting die 10 and the clamp member 42 is close to the general surface 24, so that The amount of depression necessary for the thermal transfer film 22 to adhere to the decorated surface 20, that is, 3
It requires less dimensional curvature. Thermal transfer film 22
As compared with the case where the position clamped by the side wall 38 of the support mold 10 and the clamp member 42 is the same as the top surface 37 of the object to be decorated 18, the three-dimensional bending amount is small. After all, the growth is small. Moreover, as described above, the thermal transfer film 22 is placed on the top surface 3 during clamping.
Since the area is widened by being pushed up by 7 and being curved three-dimensionally with almost no elongation, the expansion of the thermal transfer film 22 in a large area can be small and adheres to the decorated surface 20. Therefore, the elongation rate of the thermal transfer film 22 required for this purpose becomes small.

In other words, when the thermal transfer film 22 and the decorated surface 20 are degassed, the thermal transfer film 22 is likely to be depressed toward the support base 16 side. For example,
When the clamp position by the side wall 38 and the clamp member 42 is on the same plane as the top surface 37, the radius of the curved portion formed by the thermal transfer film 22 at the portion corresponding to the base end of the support base 16 is 40 mm. On the other hand, it has been confirmed by experiments that the radius of the same portion is reduced to 37 mm if the clamping position is the same as the general surface 24.

After the thermal transfer film 22 is brought into close contact with the decorated surface 20 as described above, the pressing die 12 is immediately lowered, and the thermal transfer film 22 is heated by the pressing surface 52 as shown in FIG. Pressed on the decorated surface 20,
The transferred pattern formed on the thermal transfer film 22 is transferred to the decorated surface 20. In this embodiment, since the thermal transfer film 22 is adhered to the decorated surface 20 without wrinkles,
The transferred pattern is satisfactorily transferred to the decorated surface 20.

After the transfer is completed after a predetermined time has passed, as shown in FIG. 13, the pressing die 12 and the clamp member 42 are used.
Is raised, and the support mold 10 is moved to the retracted position. The thermal transfer film 22 and the cover film 86 are raised to the separated position, and the decorated object 18 to be decorated is removed. The next decorated object 18 is supplied, and the thermal transfer film 2
2 is wound up in a fixed amount. The cover film 86 is not wound and the same portion is used again. The same portion of the cover film 86 can be used 10 times or more. The pressing surface 52 of the pressing die 12 is heated again by the pressing surface side heating device 92. In this embodiment, the silicone rubber layer 44
Since the deterioration and the peeling of the object 18 are favorably prevented, it is possible to continuously decorate a large number of objects 18 to be decorated.

When the object to be decorated 18 is changed to another object to be decorated which has a surface to be decorated with a different shape, the silicon rubber layer support member 46 is removed from the heating member 48 and a different shape is pressed. A rubber-like elastic material layer support member on which a silicon rubber layer having a surface is formed may be attached. This replacement work is easy because the weight of the silicone rubber layer support member 46 is light. Further, the support base 16 is replaced. in this case,
In the present embodiment, the support base 16 is replaced together with the wrinkle removing member 30 and the support die main body 23, but the support base 16 and the wrinkle removing member 3 of the support die main body 23 are replaced.
It is also possible to separate the part supporting 0 from the main body and replace only the separate part.

In this embodiment, all of the plurality of wrinkle removing members 30 have the same shape, but part or all of them may have different shapes. If you manufacture multiple types of wrinkle members with different shapes, you can use them in combination, and you can expand the range of decorated surfaces that can be handled by changing the fixing position and number. it can.

Further, in the first invention, the shape and the like of the wrinkle removing member are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment, but a wrinkle removing member 130 of a bale type may be used as shown in FIG. Also in this case, as shown in FIG. 16, this wrinkle removing member 13
With 0, it is possible to favorably prevent the generation of wrinkles in the portion of the thermal transfer film 22 with respect to the decorated surface 20. The wrinkle removing member 130 of the present embodiment is the used silicone rubber layer 44.
It was carved out from. In addition, the shape of the wrinkle removing member is not limited to the above-described wrinkle removing members 30 and 130, and can be arbitrarily selected according to the shape of the decorated surface 20, and similarly, the effect of the first invention can be obtained.

Further, the wrinkle portion may be a recess 142 formed in the general surface 140, as shown in FIGS. The depression 142 is formed on the support surface 14 of the general surface 140.
4 is formed in a portion close to the corner portion 146. Also in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, it is possible to favorably prevent wrinkles from being generated in the portion of the thermal transfer film 22 corresponding to the decorated surface 20. The depression 142 of the thermal transfer film 22
A wrinkle 148 is generated in a portion corresponding to the inside, but the extra film is absorbed by the portion swelling into the depression 142, and the wrinkle is small, and the portion 149 corresponding to the decorated surface 20 has a wrinkle. It does not reach.

Further, in the first to fifth inventions and the seventh invention (in the inventions other than the sixth invention), as shown in FIG. 20, the pressing die 160 is a silicon rubber layer having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. Support member 162, heating member 164,
It may be provided with a coupling device 166. In this case, the coupling device 166 includes the guide rail 17
0, the guide groove 172, the relative movement prevention device 174, etc. are suitable. The guide rails 170 are protrusions provided on the coupling surface 176 of the silicon rubber layer support member 162 and extending in the width direction. The guide rails 170 have a T-shaped cross-section and are provided in parallel with each other with two suitable intervals. Has been. Two T grooves 172 as guide grooves extending in the width direction are formed on the coupled surface 178 of the heating member 164 corresponding thereto. The guide rail 170 and the T-groove 172 can move relative to each other in the longitudinal direction, but cannot move relative to each other in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the silicone rubber layer support member 162 and the heating member 164 are guided by each other. The rail 170 and the guide groove 172 can move relative to each other only in the longitudinal direction. Similar to the heating member 48, the heating member 164 is formed with a plurality of heater holes 179, and rod-shaped heaters are inserted into the respective heater holes.

Further, two flat plate-shaped projections 180 are provided on both end surfaces of the heating member 164 in the longitudinal direction, and a through hole 182 is formed in the center of each projection 180. Pin holes 184 are formed on both end surfaces of the silicon rubber layer support member 162 at positions corresponding to the through holes 182. If the pin 186 is inserted into the through hole 182 and the pin hole 184 after the silicon rubber layer support member 162 and the heating member 164 are fitted in the guide rail 170 and the guide groove 172, the relative movement of both is prevented. To be done. Handles 188 are provided at appropriate intervals on the end surface in the width direction of the silicon rubber layer support member 162. If the handle 188 is used, the silicone rubber layer support member 1
The 62 can be easily attached to and detached from the heating member 164.

When the silicon rubber layer support member 162 is made of aluminum, there is almost no difference in temperature with the heating member 164. However, if the silicon rubber layer support member 162 is made of steel, the temperature will drop by 30 ° C. as compared with the pressing mold that cannot be separated. Therefore, it is necessary to set the rod heater to a temperature higher by 30 ° C.

The pressing surface side heating device 92 for heating the pressing surface 52 of the silicon rubber layer 44 may be a contact type instead of a radial type. Further, when the distance between the support die 10 and the pressing die 12 can be made sufficiently large, a pressing surface heating device can be attached above the support die 10. Furthermore, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the holding device for holding the thermal transfer film 22 and the cover film 86 may be fixedly provided below the pressing die 12 without being provided so as to be movable integrally with the support die 10.

In this embodiment, the thermal transfer film 22 is used.
However, it is wound up until the positioning sensor 190 detects a positioning mark (not shown).
The thermal transfer film 22 must be held so that a desired transferred pattern or the like is transferred to the decorated surface 20.
Therefore, the thermal transfer film 22 is provided with a positioning mark, and the holding position is determined based on the positioning mark. In this embodiment, the distance between the support die 10 and the pressing die 12 is sufficiently large, so that the thermal transfer film 22 is prevented from being heated by the radiation heat of the pressing die 12. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the thermal transfer film 22 from being stretched when it is wound up, and it is possible to perform the positioning with high accuracy.

On the other hand, there are cases where the thermal transfer film 22 must be held close to the pressing die 12 due to the reason that the distance between the pressing die 12 and the support die 10 cannot be made sufficiently large. In that case, a heat insulating device may be attached between the pressing die 12 and the cover film 86. The heat insulating device 192 is supported by a moving device (not shown) so as to be movable between a shutoff position shown in the figure and a retracted position on the left side, and has a heating part 196 provided in an upper part and a heat insulating part provided in an intermediate part. It is provided with a layer 198 and a heat insulating plate 200 provided below. The heat insulating device 198 includes an air cooling unit.

When the heat insulating device 192 is in the original position shown in the drawing, the thermal transfer film 22 is wound and the vacuum device 2 is used.
Deaeration according to 6. The radiant heat of the pressing die 12 is blocked by the heat insulating device 192, and the radiant heat from the heating unit 196 is blocked by the heat insulating layer 198 and the heat insulating plate 200, so that the heat transfer film 22 is prevented from being heated. The thermal transfer film 22 is prevented from being stretched during winding, and positioning can be performed accurately.
Further, since the heat insulating layer 198 is provided with the air cooling means, the radiant heat can be blocked well. Then, the heat insulation device 19
2 is moved to the right in the figure, and the pressing die 12 heated by the heating unit 196 is lowered to perform thermal transfer.

In the above embodiment, the heat insulating layer 19
Although 8 was equipped with air cooling means. Water cooling means may be provided. Alternatively, only a thick heat insulating member may be used.
Furthermore, the heating unit 196 may not be provided.

The number and position of the protrusions provided on the silicone rubber layer 44 and the grooves formed on the silicone rubber layer support member 46 are not limited to those in the above embodiment. Both the protrusion and the groove may be annular, and may be 1, 2 or 4 or more.

Further, in the above embodiment, the pressing die 1
Although 2 is vertically movable, it may be horizontally movable. Further, the cover film 86 is not essential.

Further, the material of the rubber-like elastic material, the material of the thermal transfer film 22, the shape of the object to be decorated 18 and the like are not limited to those in the above-mentioned embodiment, and the like are not illustrated, but it deviates from the scope of the claims. Without doing so, the present invention can be implemented in various modified and improved modes based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing a main part of a thermal transfer device which is an embodiment common to the first invention to the seventh invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a decorated object to which a pattern is transferred by the thermal transfer device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of the thermal transfer device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a supporting mold of the thermal transfer device.

FIG. 5 is a partially sectional front view of the support die.

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of a pressing die of the thermal transfer device.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the pressing die.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the pressing type silicone rubber layer support member.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a mold used to fix the silicone rubber layer to the silicone rubber layer support member.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a process of manufacturing the silicon rubber layer support member.

FIG. 11 is a front sectional view showing an operating state of the thermal transfer device.

FIG. 12 is a front cross-sectional view showing another operating state of the thermal transfer device.

FIG. 13 is a front cross-sectional view showing still another operating state of the thermal transfer device.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state in which the thermal transfer film is brought into close contact with the decorated surface in the thermal transfer device.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a supporting mold of a thermal transfer device which is another embodiment common to the first to fifth inventions.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which the thermal transfer film is brought into close contact with the decorated surface in the thermal transfer device.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a supporting mold of a thermal transfer device which is another common embodiment of the first to seventh inventions.

FIG. 18 is a partially sectional front view of the support die.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a state in which the thermal transfer film is brought into close contact with the decorated surface in the thermal transfer device.

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view showing a pressing die of a thermal transfer device which is another embodiment common to the first to seventh inventions.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a thermal transfer device which is another embodiment common to the first to seventh inventions.

FIG. 22 is a front sectional view showing a state where the thermal transfer film is pressed against the decorated surface in the conventional thermal transfer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Support type 12,160 Pressing type 26 Vacuum apparatus 30,130 Wrinkle removing member 34 Decorated object support part 42 Clamping member 44 Silicon rubber layer 46,162 Silicon rubber layer supporting member 48,164 Heating member 50,166 Coupling member 56, 57,60 Projection part 62,63,64 Groove 74 Bolt 82,88 Supply roller 84,90 Winding roller 142 Depression 170 Guide rail 172 T groove 174 Relative movement prevention device

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A thermal transfer device for performing decoration by pressing and heating a thermal transfer film on a three-dimensional surface to be decorated of an object to be decorated, which comprises at least one of projection and depression from a general surface. The decorated object support portion that is formed and supports the decorated object from the back surface side opposite to the decorated surface, and is provided in the peripheral portion of the decorated object support portion, and is recessed from the surface of the peripheral portion. Holding the thermal transfer film in a state of supporting a mold having a wrinkle portion including at least one of a concave portion and a protruding convex portion and facing the decorated surface of the decorated object supported by the supporting mold. A thermal transfer film holding device and a thermal transfer film held by the thermal transfer film holding device and the decorated surface are degassed to adhere the thermal transfer film to the decorated surface and at least a part of the wrinkle portion. Vacuum device And a pressing die having a pressing surface that presses the thermal transfer film against the decorated surface of the object to be decorated, and a heating device that heats the pressing surface. 2. The wrinkle portion includes a protrusion protruding from the general surface, and the protrusion has a plurality of wrinkle members having a hemispherical top surface fixed to the main body of the support mold. The thermal transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer device is formed of: 3. The pressing surface is formed by a rubber-like elastic material layer having a shape corresponding to the shape of the decorated surface of the object to be decorated, and the pressing die includes the rubber-like elastic material layer and the rubber thereof. 3. A thermal transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising a rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member that supports the elastic material layer on the back surface opposite to the pressing surface. 4. The rubber-like elastic material layer has a longitudinal projection formed substantially parallel to the peripheral edge thereof, and the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member has a groove fitted with the projection. The thermal transfer device according to claim 3, wherein the thermal transfer device comprises: 5. A heating member, wherein the pressing die further heats the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member from a side opposite to a surface supporting the rubber-like elastic material layer, and the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member. The thermal transfer device according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a coupling device that detachably couples the heating member, and the heating member constitutes the heating device. 6. The rubber-like elastic material layer and the rubber-like elastic material layer supporting member have a shell shape having a substantially constant thickness along the pressing surface.
The thermal transfer device according to any one of 1. 7. The thermal transfer device further includes a cover film holding device for holding a cover film having a width wider than that of the thermal transfer film in a state of covering the thermal transfer film from the pressing mold side. Item 7. The thermal transfer device according to any one of items 1 to 6.